Sacha Boisvert – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #2

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 16:43:27 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 02: Oliver Moore #11 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck during overtime against the Colorado Avalanche on April 2, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 2nd (May 2025 - 4th)
GM: Kyle Davidson Hired: October 2021
COACH: Jeff Blashill Hired: May 2025

Connor Bedard’s brilliance is undeniable, but even a player of his caliber can’t single-handedly lift a team. The 2024-25 season made that clear, as the Chicago Blackhawks finished 31st in the NHL and missed the playoffs for the fifth straight year; and the seventh in eight seasons. Still, beneath the losses lies a promising foundation.

Frank Nazar may be the biggest reason for optimism. After tearing up the AHL with 24 points in 21 games, he jumped into Chicago’s lineup for 53 games and proved he belonged. He looks poised to stay full-time in 2025-26. On the back end, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov both made strong early impressions. Levshunov split time between the AHL and NHL in his draft-plus-one season, while Rinzel arrived from the University of Minnesota and chipped in five assists across nine NHL games. Having two young, right-shot defensemen maturing simultaneously is a rare luxury for Davidson’s rebuild.

In Rockford, a wave of near-ready talent continues to push forward. Ethan Del Mastro and Colton Dach are trending upward, while Drew Commesso is on the verge of battling for NHL crease time. Further down, high-octane scorers Nick Lardis (117 points, fourth in OHL scoring) and Marek Vanacker (42 points in 45 games despite injury) are both primed to join the AHL ranks and extend the pipeline’s offensive depth.

The 2025 draft brought even more firepower, with three first-rounders added to the system. Headlining the class is Anton Frondell at third overall, followed by late-first selections Vaclav Nestrasil and Mason West—both ranking among the organization’s top 15 prospects.

With Bedard, Nazar, and Levshunov forming the nucleus, and waves of support talent developing behind them, Chicago’s rebuild is tracking toward its next phase. The results have been painful, but the Blackhawks’ prospect depth and draft capital suggest brighter days are not far off.

Chicago Blackhawks Top-15 Prospects

1 - Artyom Levshunov

It’s hard to envision a scenario where Artyom Levshunov doesn’t become an all-situations number one defenceman at the NHL level. From a pure talent perspective, all the qualities are there; he can distribute the puck and make plays, he’s a very mobile player at all ends of the ice, he can utilize his strength to play a strong physical game, and he is a capable defender (although this is very much still a work in progress at the pro level). It’s hard to expect a young defensive prospect to be able to play heavy minutes in the AHL as a teenager, but there were many nights last season when Levshunov looked like he was miles ahead of the rest of the players on the ice. Levshunov does have to continue to work on his physical game, and the offensive numbers will improve with more reps at the pro level, but he is a can’t-miss prospect who should make the full-time jump to the Chicago Blackhawks next season.

2 - Sam Rinzel

Sam Rinzel showed consistent growth and improvements in all areas of his game compared to his freshman season. Aggression and great stick-checking ability have continued to be excellent, demonstrating an active presence in all three zones. His skating and puck-handling at high speeds are strengths, enabling him to break up plays and contribute offensively by pinching at the blue line and joining the rush, all while having the elite creativity and puck skills. His defensive positioning has been a concern in moments, as he occasionally vacates the net front and relies on his stick over physicality, leading to mixed success in board battles. Under pressure, he has improved a lot with his puck movement and decision making. Same can be said for his reads off pinches while joining and creating offence. While his offensive instincts were already evident, he has proven this season how effective he can be on defence as well. With further development in physical engagement, he projects as a mobile, two-way defenceman with offensive upside, capable of playing in all special teams situations in a top four role. His strong finish to the year at the NHL level suggests he’s already ready for a full-time role.

3 - Anton Frondell

Kyle Davidson & the Blackhawks got their guy at third overall this past draft. While that may have been a surprise to some, it’s easy to see why Frondell was so highly regarded. Firstly, it isn’t easy to find guys who play with the heaviness AND the soft scoring touch that Frondell possesses. He’s got quick hands in tight and a tactical mind for playmaking. He reads the game at a very high level. He’s the type of player who can play with anybody and make their life easier. By all accounts, he’s a terrific teammate and leader in the dressing room - perfect for a rebuilding team like the Hawks. The only big question mark is how high his ceiling truly is. He lacks the high-end skill-speed combo that your typical NHL 1C possesses. It also limits his effectiveness in transition. Now, he could put those concerns to bed this coming year in the SHL after a full offseason of training uninhibited by injury. If not, Frondell could still probably play center in the middle six. However, he might be an even better complimentary top six goal-scoring winger. Think on the wing of Connor Bedard.

4 - Sacha Boisvert

Boisvert showed notable offensive growth throughout the season, progressing as a skilled playmaker with good skating and great puck-handling abilities. His vision and passing creates space and scoring opportunities for teammates, particularly in offensive zone setups and off the rush. Early in the season highlighted his reliable 200-foot game, good back pressure, and defensive support, suggesting top six potential. However, as the season progressed, concerns emerged regarding his compete level and defensive consistency. We hope to see much higher levels of compete and consistency at Boston University this upcoming season, after transferring from North Dakota. Strengths include his offensive awareness, puck protection, and distribution, making him a threat in the offensive zone. Weaknesses center around his inconsistent engagement in puck battles and defensive play. Boisvert currently projects as a middle six offensive forward with the potential to contribute on a second power play unit. His future development will hinge on addressing compete level and two-way reliability. Expect him to spend at least another year at the college level.

5 - Oliver Moore

Oliver Moore is a dynamic, high-speed forward with excellent skating ability, making him a dangerous offensive threat in transition. His acceleration and edgework allow him to create separation, drive play, and pressure defenders effectively. Throughout the season, Moore demonstrated strong two-way play, using his speed to track back defensively and contribute to the forecheck. His offensive instincts and playmaking have steadily improved, showcasing a growing ability to distribute the puck and finish scoring opportunities. Despite his elite skating, Moore can refine his puck handling in tight spaces and continue developing his ability to play through physical pressure. While not the most imposing forward, his compete level and tenacity make up for any size disadvantage. Projecting forward, Moore has the tools to develop into a top six NHL forward with a focus on speed-driven offence and strong defensive responsibility. Continued work on his finishing and puck protection will be key to maximizing his pro potential.

6 - Nick Lardis

What a momentous year for Lardis. 71 goals. First player to hit that plateau since John Tavares nearly two decades ago. Mostly healthy this past year (save for a knee injury in the playoffs), the transformation in Lardis’ game was huge. He went from a high-end complementary piece to a player who could take over games with the puck on his stick. He wasn’t just a threat on the power play. He scored at will at even strength too. He consistently created his own scoring chances by using his speed to attack the middle of the ice, showcasing greater strength on the puck to fight through contact to get shots off. Of course, you don’t score 70 plus without a few weapons in your shooting arsenal either. Lardis owns both a wickedly quick and deceptive wrister and a heavy one timer that he unleashes from both the slot and the flank. Moving to the pro level next year, the focus for Lardis will be on conditioning to ensure that he can withstand the rigors of the pro game and remain healthy. After a year or two in the AHL, he should be a great scoring option for the Hawks, perhaps even alongside Connor Bedard.

7 - Drew Commesso

Commesso is a solid goalie who specializes in skating. He’s quick and precise on his feet. Back it up with solid positioning, and you have someone who can always be in the right place at the right time. Outside of those aspects, he doesn’t excel elsewhere. He isn't overly athletic and can sometimes lose his structure in various areas, often looking to struggle in a butterfly. This area of weakness has led to being scored on five hole a few too many times when faced with chaotic situations. He also has been shown to get beat pretty easily on clean rush shots where his hands weren’t active enough. His skating is easily good enough to take him to the NHL, whether he finds much success won’t be as easily determined. Without being super athletic, he will have to perfect his structure and work on bettering his hands to be impactful at the next level.

8 - Roman Kantserov

Despite missing the start of the season due to injury, Roman Kantserov had an impressive second KHL season. After a bottom six checking role last year, he was given much more offensive freedom this season, scoring 38 points in 47 games. Known for his quick hands and shifty play during his draft year, he started to showcase that skill again while maintaining the hard-working style he developed in his checking role. His high pace of play often catches opponents off guard, and his ability to shield the puck helps him create numerous scoring chances. However, he still struggles with overhandling the puck, leading to turnovers, and sometimes forces flashy plays that put him in bad spots. Kantserov will take another KHL season before joining Chicago’s system but projects as a high-energy, third-line grinder with the potential to contribute offensively. There are areas that need refinement, but his development has been very promising.

9 - Marek Vanacker

It was a bit of a strange year for Vanacker, as his production dipped significantly on a strong Brantford team. The explanation for that is twofold. Firstly, he got a late start to the year following offseason shoulder surgery last season and never really seemed to find his stride. Secondly, with the explosion of Lardis and Patrick Thomas duo, Vanacker found himself off the top power play unit. Should Hawks fans worry? We would say no. Next year, he’ll be fully healthy, and he and Jake O’Brien can continue to build off their chemistry as the top duo on what should be another strong Brantford team. He still has the work rate and the scoring chops to be a quality middle six NHL player in the future. Next year will be more telling as to the likelihood of that upside occurring.

10 - Ethan Del Mastro

Ethan Del Mastro is a strong, physical defender with sound positioning, good mobility for his size, and fierce competitiveness. For these reasons, it’s not hard to envision a scenario where Del Mastro enjoys a long career as an NHL defender. Del Mastro played very well in heavy minutes last season for the Rockford IceHogs, despite putting up lower offensive numbers than he did in his rookie season. This was due in part to the addition of Artyom Levshunov, as he got many of the reps Del Mastro had been receiving the prior season, but Del Mastro also spent time with the Blackhawks, which can make it difficult for a prospect to gain offensive traction. Nevertheless, Del Mastro will make his millions in the NHL as a player that plays defence first, so it’s not too alarming that his offensive numbers dipped as a sophomore pro. Del Mastro looks ready for consistent minutes at the NHL level and should be on the Blackhawks this season.

11 - Colton Dach

Dach is the prototypical power forward in the NHL. He blends speed, physicality, and a good shot, which makes slowing him down nearly impossible. Dach earned the call up to the NHL at the turn of the year last season and looks to build on that again this year. His unique blend of size and skill makes him a versatile forward who can just as easily fill the net as he can run people over.

12 - Vaclav Nestrasil

Nestrasil has top six finesse and some bottom six grit. He’s a big guy who is a smooth skater, has a snappy shot, and isn’t afraid to lay the body. He has the offensive and defensive skills to play on both special teams' units. Nestrasil isn’t the best playmaker, though. He doesn’t drive the offence himself yet can complement just about any center he plays with. He’ll be a big-minute player for UMass next season, playing in all situations for the Minutemen.

13 - Mason West

There aren’t many players at 6-foot-6 who have as much finesse as Mason West has. West is a great skater whose playmaking shines above the rest. Still a raw prospect, West will get plenty of opportunity to hone his physical game as well as his skills against tougher competition in the USHL. Once his football season comes to an end, West will look to continue his development as an integral piece of the Fargo Force.

14 - Ryan Greene

For every flashy, high skill forward, teams want a shutdown guy too. That’s what the Chicago Blackhawks hope they have in Ryan Greene. While posting near point-per-game numbers with Boston University, Greene has developed as a playmaker and strong defensive center. Depending on how NHL-ready Greene looks in training camp, he could start the year in the NHL as another young Chicago forward or be the first-line center in Rockford.

15 - Aidan Thompson

Not many players make a 20-point jump in production between their sophomore and junior seasons at the NCAA level. Thompson did just that after netting 55 points in 44 games with Denver. Thompson’s sizable jump got him to the AHL level, but another significant improvement all around will be required for him to get NHL minutes. He’ll be a responsible winger on both ends of the ice for Rockford, where he’ll likely bounce around the top six.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #4 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS– Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 12:37:30 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 06: Sam Rinzel #6 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck during the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 6, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Subscribers can download the PDF in subscriber downloads.

Please note you can scroll through the PDF document here as well

Chicago 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #6

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:00:08 +0000

_{CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 14: Frank Nazar #91 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at the United Center on April 14, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 6th (Previous Rank - 6th)
GM: Kyle Davidson Hired: October 2021
COACH: Luke Richardson Hired: June 2022

It doesn’t take much to change the course of an organization; just ask the Chicago Blackhawks, who struck gold by winning the draft lottery and landing generational talent Connor Bedard. After his first full season in the NHL, Bedard is already making an unsurprising impact, revitalizing the franchise. The Blackhawks’ youth movement doesn’t stop there, as they have also seen several youngsters graduate to the big league recently, including Lukas Reichel, Alex Vlasic, and Kevin Korchinski.

That list of graduates may grow further next year, with 2024 second overall pick Artyom Levshunov (ranked 16th) pressing for a spot on the Hawks’ blueline out the gate. Although, recent additions to the backend that include Alec Martinez and T.J Brodie may hint at alternative plans.

On the cusp of turning pro is Frank Nazar (57th), who is fresh off a two-year NCAA stint where he contributed nearly a point-per-game (0.89). He joins current Rockford standouts such as Ethan Del Mastro (95th), Wyatt Kaiser, and goaltender Drew Commesso (118th) in the AHL.

Further down the pipeline, the Blackhawks boast a strong group of prospects developing in various walks of North America, including Oliver Moore (80th), Sacha Boisvert (111th), Marek Vanacker (147th), Sam Rinzel (125th) and Nick Lardis (152nd), who all sit comfortably within our top-200 list here at McKeen’s.

With eight picks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft (so far), including two first-rounders and two second-rounders, Chicago’s prospect pool is set to grow even further in the near future.

Contrary to the belief that the Blackhawks would take a step back for another season to await further reinforcements, the team has bolstered its lineup with veteran talent to complement Bedard. With additions such as Ilya Mikheyev, Pat Maroon, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teräväinen, they may be more competitive than originally predicted.

While the Blackhawks may still be years away from true Stanley Cup contention, the rebuild is progressing smoothly, and the landing is likely to be much softer than most full rebuilds typically endure.

Chicago Blackhawks Top-15 Prospects

1. Artyom Levshunov

Chicago wanted to add a franchise-changing defenceman after they were lucky enough to pick a franchise-changing forward in Connor Bedard last year, and they're hoping they found him in Levshunov this summer. He's a complete blueliner who does everything at a high level, albeit arguably one without a truly elite trait. Not only does he thrive in all the various situations throughout a game, he has the necessary conditioning and inner drive to handle the pressure and workload of being a top-pairing defender. Whether up a goal or down a goal at a key juncture in a game, he’s always ready to go over the boards and has what it takes to get the job done. Levshunov will be a foundational piece for the Blackhawks as they seek to transition out of their rebuild toward being a top Stanley Cup contender once again.

2. Frank Nazar

After being limited to just 13 games in 2022-23 due to injury, Nazar was clearly intent on rebounding in a big way this season, and boy did he ever. He scored at a point-per-game pace in the NCAA for Michigan and did the same at the World Juniors, helping the United States win the gold medal. And as if that wasn’t enough, he put a bow on the year by scoring his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. He plays the game at a breakneck pace and is able to slice through coverage like a hot knife through butter. He’s equally tenacious without the puck, as there aren’t many forwards out there who are better on the forecheck. Players with his short stature often have a tough time in the NHL, but Nazar just plays so fast and so focused that it’s hard to make contact and slow him down.

3. Oliver Moore

Moore is one of the fastest hockey players in the world, across all ages and leagues and levels, and him being that good in that specific area makes it easier to adjust to new situations, because he knows he always has that elite trait to lean on. That's the main reason why it took him no time at all to find his bearings in the NCAA, and he'll experience a similar luxury when he goes to the AHL. Well, that’s if he even stops there at all on his way to Chicago, which could very well happen. He's also quite smart about how he uses that speed to be a difference-maker for his team all over the ice, and the more his hands can keep catching up to his feet, the more maddening it's going to be for enemy defenders who are tasked with neutralizing him.

4. Ethan Del Mastro

The way that Del Mastro continues to constantly build more and more layers upon the foundation of his game is quite impressive and should not be undervalued. He is making huge strides in his development every year, and his secret is knowing his strengths and steadfastly perfecting them. Mature and poised beyond his years, he sees the ice in front of him with expert awareness and always knows exactly where he needs to be and what his next move is, whether that’s driving play forward or looking to win the puck back. He keeps things simple and no-frills, but that’s a perfectly fine strategy for him to focus on since every decision he makes is usually the correct one. He’s the type of defencemen who could conceivably accumulate more than 1,000 games in the NHL because coaches will always be able to rely on him as a two-way difference-maker.

5. Sacha Boisvert

Boisvert is the kind of top prospect who has more potential than his stats alone would suggest. He's a powerful forward who is strong on the puck and leans more as a shooter than a playmaker, which is a little uncommon for centers, but he makes it work. There are currently some issues with his skating ability and pacing, but what's important to recognize and appeals to scouts is that both of those weaknesses look fixable down the road with the right training and development, and since he's going the college route he'll have plenty of time to work on them. In a different organization there might be more concerns about his eventual effectiveness, especially if he had to do a lot of heavy lifting by himself, but on paper he should fit in very well with Chicago's other forward prospects, who will complement Boisvert's game and help elevate it.

6. Drew Commesso

Commesso’s development to this point could accurately be described as “slow and steady,” but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to goaltenders. At no point in his three years in the NCAA was he ever within the upper echelon of college goalies, but he was always very good, winning more games than he lost while also helping Boston University win a Hockey East title in 2023. His first year in the AHL was very much in the same mold: good, steady performances from start to finish and respectable statistics overall, even though he never exactly established himself as one of the best netminding prospects in the league. Nevertheless, Stanley Cups have been won before with goalies who are Steady Eddies who didn’t need to steal games single-handedly, so long as they made the right saves at the right times.

7. Sam Rinzel

Rinzel has always been seen as a bit of a long-term project, and Chicago’s expectations were undoubtedly centered around reasonable year-over-year growth. He hasn’t needed to be a major difference-maker yet, so long as he kept getting closer and closer to the projected ceiling of him becoming that kind of player one day. So far, so good. This past season was easily his most impressive one yet, finishing with more points than any other defender on his team, while also guarding his own zone admirably well as a college freshman. He’s the type of big, rangy, right-shooting blueliner that all teams highly covet these days, which is why the Blackhawks used a 1st-round draft pick to acquire him even though he was still a long way away from the NHL at the time. Their patience should pay off eventually so long as they are content to stay the course.

8. Marek Vanacker

Vanacker had a standout sophomore season in the OHL, and what made it extra interesting is that he didn't have a lot of support around him and often had to make his success single-handedly. He's an athletic and assertive winger who builds up huge amounts of power and speed skating in a straight line, and it's difficult to contain him because he can still handle and protect the puck when he's driving play forward in his top gear. These tools also help him excel as a penalty killer who can clear his zone and then push for shorthanded opportunities in the other direction. He might not quite have enough vision, creativity, or pure skill to be a major offensive threat at the NHL level, but if he eventually reaches his ceiling he'll be one of the best middle six wingers in the sport.

9. Nick Lardis

Lardis was a late riser for the 2023 draft and was on such a steep upward trajectory down that stretch, so it's a real shame that his 2023-24 season was sliced in half due to injury. Regardless, he still looked great when he was in the lineup, and then led his team in playoff scoring, albeit in a six-game losing effort in the opening round. He is a blazingly fast skater who is always dangerous on the rush, both on breakaways and in odd-man situations, with quick hands that can open up goalies in different ways. He's also a lethal finisher from the circles when he gets clean shooting looks. His offensive game might never quite be well-rounded enough to become a top six mainstay for an NHL team, but if not, he still has a great shot at becoming a speedy middle six option.

10. Ryan Greene

Greene is a rock-solid, no-frills center who plays an impressively complete game. What he might lack in flash and excitement he more than makes up for with reliability and versatility, the kind of forward that a coach never feels nervous about sending over the boards. Think about the specific type of heavy, strong value that players like Charlie Coyle, Andrew Copp, and J.T. Compher provide, and that will give you a rough idea of what the Blackhawks are hoping to have on their hands one day with Greene once he reaches his peak. While he didn't get as much fanfare as teammates Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, he was also an essential piece of the Boston University squad that made the Frozen Four this spring, and he'll have an even bigger role on the team next season because Celebrini will undoubtedly be in the NHL.

11. Adam Gajan

Goaltenders are more difficult to analyze compared to skaters, and Gajan exemplifies this more than most. He was simply stellar at the past two World Juniors, but far less consistent and reliable in the USHL, despite the stakes being much lower. The good news is that the Slovakian import still has untapped potential, with ideal size and a great blend of quickness, reflexes, and flexibility. He's heading to college next and will have plenty of time to refine things.

12. Nolan Allan

It’s undeniable that the sport of hockey is getting faster and more purely skilled. However, there will always still be an element of physicality, and that’s where Allan comes in. He’s strong and he’s sturdy, and he’s more than happy to focus on the nitty gritty parts of the job, though his game is more about blocking shots, box-outs, and board-pins, as opposed to dropping the gloves or chasing bone-rattling hits.

13. Colton Dach

It must be frustrating to be Dach lately, as COVID forced him to miss most of his draft year and then injuries limited his ice time for the past two seasons. At least he was able to be part of a gold medal-winning Canadian roster at the World Juniors and the 2023 WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds, both of which provided beneficial experience. His brand of big-body, puck-possession hockey is working for him in the AHL, when he’s been healthy enough to showcase it.

14. Roman Kantserov

Kantserov’s first full season in the KHL was an eventful one, dressing for all of his team’s playoff games and playing on top lines as they won the league championship. And he did all of that while playing through an injury that required summer surgery. For his efforts he was also a finalist for the KHL’s rookie of the year. He sees the ice well and has a killer instinct when the puck hits his stick.

15. Gavin Hayes

Hayes clearly relished his change of scenery going from the struggling Firebirds to the sturdier Greyhounds, exploding in the playoffs. That big leap forward followed a good track record of steady incremental progress before it. He displays respectable amounts of both power and skill, and he doesn't skip out on his defensive duties. There is stiff competition among forwards within Chicago's prospect pipeline, but Hayes is smart and versatile enough that he should be able to plug into their roster somewhere.

2024 NHL SCOUTING REPORT (VIDEO + GRADES): Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

Jamison Derksen — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 15:49:34 +0000

Sacha Boisvert

C - #9 Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

6'2, 183 lbs, Shoots: L

DOB: 17.03.2006 - Trois-Rivières, Quebec

Sacha Boisvert was born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec and was drafted twice in the QMJHL draft, 12th Overall in 2022 and 88th Overall in 2023. Instead of playing his junior hockey in the CHL, the lanky centre decided to pursue the NCAA route, opting to join the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks last season. After putting up 0.82 points per game as a USHL rookie last year, he was a key cog in the Muskegon Lumberjacks offense this season. Boisvert, paired with fellow draft-eligible forward Matvei Gridin, were a dominant duo, each landing near the top of the 2023/24 USHL scoring race. Boisvert himself had 36 goals and 32 assists, as he helped lead the Lumberjacks to a 2nd place finish in the USHL’s Eastern Conference. He is committed to joining North Dakota in the NCAA next season.

Boisvert has a lot going for him on the ice, he has excellent vision, a good shot, decent skating, composure under pressure, some size, and some competitive fire: overall, he has the tools to grow into a very effective two-way forward. It’s not hard to see why he is likely to hear his name called in the first round of the NHL Draft on Friday. With some development in his own zone, and added weight, he should have a good career as a middle-six forward in the NHL.

Skating

Boisvert’s skating is kind of all over the place right now. On one hand, if you are looking for a naturally smooth skater, Boisvert can be your guy. The 6’2 centreman gains speed rapidly by using crossovers and then stays on the move by gliding around. He’s able to create separation often by changing angles at top speed. His skating style can look very effortless, but really he’s just very efficient with building and maintaining speed.

However, Boisvert’s straight-line skating is not quite as fast as you would expect, he tends to lean forward, which doesn’t allow the long strides that he ideally would be using in a straight line. He also needs to work on his burst from a standstill. He can sometimes look a little flat-footed when he is not already in motion. Ideally, some focused coaching can fix a lot of his skating flaws and he should end up as a plus skater overall.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-Rush.mp4

Boisvert uses some quick acceleration to create some space right away on the rush here. One aggressive crossover changes his angle enough from him to evade the defender and turn a 2-on-2 into a 2-on-1.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-Backcheckrush.mp4

This clip is a pretty good summary of Boisvert’s skating. He doesn’t really have much of a middle gear, he is either accelerating or gliding. He probably leans a bit too far forward when he’s hustling in a straight line, which ends up shortening his stride a bit. But crossovers are definitely the strength in his skating.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-anglechange.mp4

Another strength in Boisvert’s skating is his ability to change angles at his speeds to evade defenders. Here a quick turn on his front foot buys him an extra second to get his shot off.

Grade: 55

Shot

When it comes to shooting, Boisvert is an interesting case. He actually has a very hard and accurate wrist shot, which he loves to use from pretty much anywhere in the offensive zone. At the junior level, he can consistently beat goalies clean with wrist shots from the tops of the circles but will need to utilize screens or get closer to the net if he isn’t adding a slapshot to his repertoire. Furthermore, he has a long windup with that wrist shot, so he needs a bit of space to get it off. At times his long windup can be easy for defenders to read, particularly if he is trying to shoot from a distance. He will need to make some adjustments for the pro level, as it will be a lot harder for him to find time and space against NHL defenders. I wonder if he could fix this by using a shorter stick, just to get the shot off a bit quicker and keep the puck in tighter to himself.

Boisvert’s one-timer is somewhere in between a slap and a snapshot, and he’s very effective at getting it off quickly. It is unlikely that he is going to be the main one-timer option on the power play at the NHL level, but it is good enough that he is a threat to score when he uses it.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-ShootingwithSpace.mp4

When he has a bit of space to get his shot off, Boisvert can be deadly. Here, he quickly settles the puck down and automatically pulls it into a shooting position. He regularly beats goaltenders clean from range with shots like this.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-SharpAngle.mp4

Here is a nice zone entry from Boisvert to get the powerplay set up before showcasing superb accuracy with the snipe from a sharp angle.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-LongRushShot.mp4

Sometimes Boisvert’s long windup can make him too easy to read, particularly on the rush. Here the defender has no problem shutting down the attempt from Boisvert.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-BumperOneT.mp4

Contrary to his wrist shot, Boisvert does not have a large wind-up for one-timers, enabling him to get the puck off quite quickly on opportunities like this.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-OneTimer.mp4

Here is pretty much the maximum wind-up in Boisvert’s repertoire. He keeps his bottom hand still pretty high up his stick, I would think he could get a bit more on it if he slid that hand down a bit. He turns his toes a bit to compensate for the soft pass and gets a really clean release off.

Grade: 57.5

Skill

Boisvert actually had more goals than assists this season, but I think he probably is more of a playmaker at the NHL level. His shot is good but there are still some adjustments he needs to make to it. His passing? Much more impressive to me. He regularly threads the puck through passing windows that you can’t even see at first when you are watching him. He has a ton of confidence moving the puck and it always seems to end up right on the tape.

His hands are certainly above-average as well. He is very good at settling down bouncing or rolling pucks, which makes it very easy for him to retrieve pucks off the boards or quickly turn turnovers into offensive opportunities.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-SpinAssist.mp4

Here’s a clip that shows off Boisvert’s impressive confidence and playmaking ability. After picking up the loose puck he immediately identifies the lane he needs to funnel the puck through and does so perfectly, avoiding the defender beside him and getting the puck to his teammate before the backcheckers could get to the slot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-SlotPass.mp4

This is another one where he identifies the lane he needs to use on the rush and threads the puck right onto his teammate’s stick. Good to see him buy a little bit of time at the line, allowing his teammate to catch up with the play and even up the numbers on the rush.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-CrossIcePass.mp4

He slips this backhand pass over so quickly and discreetly that you almost miss it. Right on the tape as per usual.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-InTight.mp4

Boisvert displays some composure here in tight, calmly deking through the defender and beating the goaltender. He makes plays like this look so easy.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-aerialpass.mp4

Points for confidence and creativity on this one. Boisvert sees the stick in the passing lane and decides to just sauce one over the defenders for a breakaway pass. Not many players would try this and even fewer would feather the pass so perfectly.

Grade: 55

Smarts

There are few players in the draft this year that are calmer with the puck under pressure than Boisvert. He has good vision and anticipation, he will attract defenders and then give the puck to a teammate with ease. If he doesn’t have a passing option, he won’t panic as he has no problem deking through a defender either. Around the blue lines, he does turn the puck over too much, often when he is delaying while waiting for his teammates to catch up on the rush.

Playmaking is Boisvert’s highest-end ability in my opinion. He does not get intimidated by traffic and trusts his reads to find teammates. Boisvert’s ability to thread passes through traffic seems pretty lucky at first, but when you watch him enough, you realize that he is able to read the body and stick traffic very well and times a lot of those passes perfectly. He makes a lot of passes through or between defenders, which is very effective with the mental mistakes that defenders make at the junior level. His knack for finding those lanes will come in handy when those windows get even smaller at the next level.

In general, Boisvert seems to know approximately where he needs to be in the defensive end, but he still needs to commit to actually defending. His positioning does not help much when he fails to get engaged in the task at hand in his own zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-OZunderPressure.mp4

Boisvert is so calm under pressure in the offensive zone. He welcomes pressure in the corner here and quickly moves the puck to the wide-open blueliner.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-backdoorpass.mp4

Finding lanes to make passes is one of Boisvert’s greatest abilities, if there’s a stick he needs to find, he will find it. He knows where the pass is going as soon as he sees the defender’s stick on the inside.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-MovingDeflection.mp4

Boisvert won’t ever park himself in front of the net for rebounds or deflections, but he is very good at sneaking across the slot for deflections as shown here. He will find some open ice where he does not look like much of a threat but then will come back across for a moving deflection before the defenders realize where he is.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-CoversD.mp4

This is a pretty good summary of where Boisvert is defensively. Good read, he knows he needs to cover for the d-man and uses his good skating to do so. Once he gets into position he kind of seems lost as to how to defend the rush 1-on-1. Once he picks up the puck he knows what to do.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-Giveaway.mp4

A nice little rush to start the play here, but when Boisvert delays, he tries a pass that never really has a chance. Not a good turnover at the offensive blue line.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-LosesDZC.mp4

He gets a little lost on his defensive zone coverage here, causing some confusion among the forwards. Fortunately, even with all three Muskegon forwards on one side of the ice, their opponents are not able to generate much of a chance. Boisvert will need to improve on his play in his own end, but that can be learned before long if he commits to it.

Grade: 55

Physical/Compete

When Boisvert wants to compete, he can be very effective. His combination of skating and size (which will be much more of a factor when he fills out a bit) gives him a really good base to be an excellent power forward. As things stand currently, his hitting needs a lot of work, he leads with his hands a lot of the time and misses checks more than he should. Still, he has shown a willingness to play physically and will need to continue to develop that part of his game.

I would love to see Boisvert compete a bit harder defensively. A lot of the time he is one of the last players back on the backcheck, or he is in the defensive zone but not really defending at all. A lot of goals against have him simply standing there watching the puck. He has the physical tools, as well as the IQ (see: his intelligence with the puck), to be an effective 200-foot player but he has some serious development needed as a defender.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-GettingInvolvedFC.mp4

Boisvert flies up the ice here and doesn’t slow down on the forecheck. He doesn’t really get a great hit in on either attempt, but his skating and his willingness to get involved physically give him a good base to become a useful forechecker once he adds a bit more weight.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-CornerRetrieval.mp4

He uses his body a bit to open up space for himself, as shown here. Some more weight on his frame could make Boisvert pretty dominant down low. As per usual in this clip, he calmly dishes the puck to an open teammate as opponents collapse on him.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-GiveawayHit.mp4

A bad turnover to start the clip here, but Boisvert remedies it almost instantly. He gets in between the puck and the net and forces his opponent to the boards, knocking him off the puck.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-BadGap.mp4

Boisvert wants to make an impact hit here but misses due to keeping too big of a gap defensively. Ideally, he plays this tighter and angles the forward up the boards, finishing with the hit he wants.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boisvert-GA.mp4

Goals against like this are a common occurrence, Boisvert is in the middle of the screen here, not really making an effort to defend at all. He knows he needs to be in the middle of the ice, but doesn’t really contribute to protecting his own net much. It will be interesting to see growth from him defensively when he is in a new environment next season at North Dakota.

Grade: 52.5

OFP: 54.75

A note on the 20-80 scale used above. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2024 NHL DRAFT GUIDE: TWO-ROUND MOCK DRAFT

Brock Otten — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:03:17 +0000

#1. San Jose Sharks - Macklin Celebrini - C - Boston University (HE)

At this point, San Jose might as well announce this now. The entire hockey world knows that Celebrini is going to be its guy. This is a pivot without any true weaknesses who projects as a franchise leader for the Sharks moving forward. Think of the impact that Jonathan Toews had on turning the Blackhawks rebuild around.

#2. Chicago Blackhawks - Artyom Levshunov – D - Michigan State (B1G)

Part of me believes that Chicago might really like Sam Dickinson because of how much value they have been placing on skating in recent drafts, but another part believes that Levshunov will be the Hawks guy. We prefer Dickinson, but there’s no doubting that Levshunov has among the highest two-way upside of any defender in this draft. With his high-end skill and offensive aggressiveness, he’ll be able to give the Hawks a dynamic puck mover on both of their first two pairings (with Korchinski).

#3. Anaheim Ducks - Anton Silayev – D - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

On one hand, the Ducks haven’t used a Top 50 pick on a Russian based player (as in playing in the KHL, MHL, etc) since Stanislav Chistov in 2001. It’s obvious that they have preferences for other regions. However, what’s also obvious is the fit here. The Ducks have so many terrific puck moving defenders. The system is loaded. However, the team’s high end defensively oriented prospects have had their development stall like Noah Warren and Drew Helleson. Anaheim could see Silayev as an amazing fit beside guys like Mintyukov and Zellweger, allowing them to play freely and aggressively.

#4. Columbus Blue Jackets - Ivan Demidov – RW - SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)

The Jackets have had great success with young Russian players recently, even forming a great Russian kid line involving Chinakhov, Voronkov, and Marchenko. Not only is Demidov clearly the best player available at this point, but he also helps add significant skill to the wing for the organization that needs it. This is an offensive play driver solely needed.

#5. Montreal Canadiens - Cayden Lindstrom – C - Medicine Hat (WHL)

This is one of the best-case scenarios for Montreal. Is Lindstrom’s injury history a concern? Likely for some teams. However, the upside here is too large for Montreal to pass up. Not only is Lindstrom a fantastic young player, but he also helps the Canadiens get bigger and heavier up front, which was a reason for preferring Slafkovsky at first overall two years ago.

#6. Utah Hockey Club - Zeev Buium – D - Denver (NCHC)

Seems likely that Utah could lean towards taking one of the high-end offensive defenders available with this pick. In the last five drafts, the Coyotes have not taken a single player out of the OHL. This leads me to believe that Buium is a guy that the team could find really attractive at #6. He’s such an intelligent playmaker from the backend and he would really help Utah improve their transitional game and powerplay production.

#7. Ottawa Senators - Sam Dickinson – D - London (OHL)

Dickinson is the perfect defender for the modern era thanks to his high-end skating ability. He’s the kind of blueliner who projects as an all situations, minute eater. Given how terrific he has been in this year’s OHL playoffs (and the Memorial Cup), Ottawa likely sees him as a terrific fit as a “winner” who can help them get over the hump in the coming years. The Sens really need to hit on this pick and Dickinson is as safe as safe can be to be an impact player.

#8. Seattle Kraken - Beckett Sennecke – RW - Oshawa (OHL)

There is a ton of traction for Sennecke to be a high pick and Seattle strikes us as a likely landing spot. They’ve targeted the OHL pretty heavily and, playing in the Pacific, they want to load up their lineup with heavier players who can withstand the punishing style in the division. Sennecke oozes upside as an athletic winger still growing into his frame. He is skilled, physical, and intelligent. A great combination. Logic says Seattle finally uses their first on a defender, but something about this spot screams Sennecke.

#9. Calgary Flames - Tij Iginla – C - Kelowna (WHL)

Maybe this is far-fetched. But maybe it’s not. Teams don’t use top ten selections for the sole purpose of nostalgia. But how can you pass up the opportunity to draft an iconic name, who also happens to be worthy in this spot. Iginla was terrific in the second half of the year, and this gives Calgary an injection of skill and tenacity. He could have a similar impact to his father in Calgary.

#10. New Jersey Devils - Konsta Helenius – C - Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)

The Devils are a team that definitely don’t want to be picking in this range. The organization has been trying to escape the rebuilding phase, so would it not make sense for them to target a player who has great upside, but who can also make an impact pretty quickly? Helenius fits in well with the players already in New Jersey and the Devils have liked the region in recent drafts.

#11. Buffalo Sabres - Zayne Parekh – D - Saginaw (OHL)

Yeah, we know that the Sabres already have Dahlin and Power on the back end. That powerplay unit is already loaded. However, at some point, you have to say that Parekh is too good to let slide further. One of the draft’s most creative and intelligent defenders, Parekh is the ultimate wild card. He could go as high as the top five or fall out of the lottery all together. This would be great value for the Sabres.

#12. Philadelphia Flyers - Cole Eiserman – LW - U. S. NTDP U18

Often tagged as being the draft’s purest goal scorer, Eiserman had an up and down year with the NTDP. However, he still managed to break the program’s scoring record and that is impressive. Big wingers who can put the puck in the net do not grow on trees. While the Flyers could go defense here, having just dealt top prospect Cutter Gauthier for defender Jamie Drysdale, it seems unlikely that they will go that route.

#13. Minnesota Wild - Carter Yakemchuk – D - Calgary (WHL)

This seems low for Yakemchuk. But someone is going to need to fall a bit considering the talent available in the lottery. While Yakemchuk’s upside is significant, we think teams may have concerns over his puck management and skating combination. That said, he’s a great fit in Minnesota as a potential puck mover and triggerman who can help their powerplay and move quickly through the system.

#14. San Jose Sharks (via Pittsburgh Penguins) - Stian Solberg – D - Valerenga (Norway)

The draft is bound to get pretty wild around this point given the wild fluctuation among rankings. Solberg has had a ton of momentum the last month and we really like this fit. Solberg was tremendous at the World Championships, showing that he can impact the game in a lot of different ways. This is someone who can come in and be a defensive stalwart for the Sharks in the future.

#15. Detroit Red Wings - Berkly Catton – C - Spokane (WHL)

This is much lower than our ranking for Catton, but we realize that we may be more aggressive on him compared to the NHL community. He is the kind of play driver who can elevate Detroit’s first two lines in the future. He’s more skilled than Danielson and Kasper, but he has that same kind of high-end work ethic. If Catton is still available at fifteen, this should one hundred percent be his landing spot.

#16. St. Louis Blues - Trevor Connelly – LW - Tri-City (USHL)

Where does Connelly go? That’s one of the draft’s biggest questions considering the noise around his off-ice “issues.” However, we do think that someone bites considering Connelly has among the highest offensive upsides of any forward in this draft. The Blues need more firepower. They need more play drivers. Connelly is someone who can make this St. Louis team better down the line if he progresses well.

#17. Washington Capitals - Adam Jiricek – D - Plzen (Czechia)

It was a pretty tough draft year for Jiricek, after he missed the majority of the year with injury. However, he came into the year as a potential top ten selection for a reason. He’s talented and a potential two-way stalwart like his brother David. So many options here but could see the Caps lean defense if Jiricek is still on the board.

#18. Chicago Blackhawks (via New York Islanders) - Michael Brandsegg Nygard – RW - Mora (Allsvenskan)

The Hawks have really been focusing on selecting strong skaters in recent years, so there’s a chance that they team will jump on a guy like Jett Luchanko here. However, we like Brandsegg Nygard here for a few reasons. One, he’s one of the best players available. Two, he’s an excellent fit alongside some of the high-end skill that Chicago has brought in. His hard work and attention to detail could make him the kind of high-end role player that Chicago had during their Cup runs.

#19. Vegas Golden Knights - EJ Emery – D - U. S. NTDP U18

Did you know that Vegas has never drafted a player out of the U.S. NTDP? Seems wild, but this could be the year. Vegas has used their first selection on a center every year of existence. That kind of commitment is impressive. However, we believe that this is the year that the streak breaks. We love Emery’s physical tools and upside as a defensive stalwart, and he fits the exact mold of the kind of defender Vegas seems to love. The team’s defensive core is getting older, and he could be a great fit there in a few years.

#20. New York Islanders (via Tampa Bay Lightning) - Michael Hage – C - Chicago (USHL)

We like this potential landing spot for Hage. He was, perhaps, the best player in the USHL in the second half of the year. This was the real Michael Hage, after he put some personal turmoil behind him. He has upside as a top six, power center and his skill is badly needed in a prospect pool that is currently lacking it.

#21. Los Angeles Kings - Jett Luchanko – C - Guelph (OHL)

We know the Kings love the OHL. Luchanko would be a great pick here. The tenacious and intelligent pivot brings speed and playmaking ability to the table and looks like a future fixture as a second line center. There aren’t a ton of natural pivots in the system right now, so it also makes sense for Los Angeles to target that position, if a good one is available.

#22. Nashville Predators - Leo Sahlin Wallenius – D - Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)

A strong skating, potential two-way defender, Sahlin Wallenius proved to be a bit of a chameleon in his draft year. What’s his real future role? Regardless, the physical tools are going to be intriguing to a team like Nashville.

#23. Toronto Maple Leafs - Harrison Brunicke – D - Kamloops (WHL)

This would be the first time since 2018 that Toronto uses its first-round selection on a defender. We’d say it’s needed. Brunicke is a strong skating rearguard with upside at both ends. He excelled defensively at the U18’s and he’s the kind of modern-day defender that Toronto sorely lacks. The organization would have also seen a fair amount of Brunicke while scouting Fraser Minten in Kamloops.

#24. Colorado Avalanche - Igor Chernyshov – LW - Dynamo Moskva (KHL)

We could see Colorado moving this pick at the draft for some immediate help after their disappointing playoff performance. However, if they keep this selection, a guy like Chernyshov could make a ton of sense. He can attack with speed and power, playing a North/South game that fits their system.

#25. Ottawa Senators (via Boston Bruins) - Liam Greentree – RW - Windsor (OHL)

Back-to-back OHL players for Ottawa in our mock, this time the team selects Windsor winger Greentree, who has the potential to be a Jason Robertson kind of player in the future. He is creative and skilled but needs to improve his skating. We believe improving the team’s skill and finishing ability on the wing should be a focus.

#26. Montreal Canadiens (via Winnipeg Jets) - Sam O’Reilly – RW - London (OHL)

With a strong OHL playoffs and Memorial Cup performance, O’Reilly has surged up draft rankings to close out the year. The physical, two-way center has more offensive upside than he has shown thus far playing in a secondary scoring role. Worst case scenario could see him developing into a Scott Laughton type, which would still be terrific value at this point of the first.

#27. Carolina Hurricanes - Alfons Freij – D - Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)

The Hurricanes always seem to love the same kind of players that the amateur scouting community love. Freij is one of those amateur scouting darlings this year that we (as a community) seem to love more than the NHL community (as a whole). The skating ability and skill are evident. He was a standout at nearly every international event for Sweden and projects as a skilled top four defende

#28. Calgary Flames (via Vancouver Canucks) - Cole Beaudoin – C - Barrie (OHL)

After drafting Iginla early, the Flames opt for a different kind of forward late in the first. Beaudoin projects as the kind of guy you win in the playoffs with. He brings versatility. He brings leadership. He brings consistency. He is an intelligent playmaker and can excel as a middle six complementary piece. Just seems very likely that at least one NHL team likes his intangibles enough to draft him in the first.

#29. Dallas Stars - Emil Hemming – RW - TPS (Fin-Liiga)

The Stars haven’t drafted a player out of Finland since Miro Heiskanen in 2017, but we’d say that has worked out pretty well. At this point, Hemming fills a need and represents the best player available. He brings tenaciousness and he is one of the draft’s best goal scorers from the wing.

#30. New York Rangers - Charlie Elick - D - Brandon (WHL)

Elick has a similar profile to Braden Schneider when the Rangers drafted him and that worked out pretty well. The size, skating, and physicality combination make Elick a potential shutdown defender for a decade. His decision making needs to improve, but New York has actually improved this component in several of their defensive prospects.

#31. Anaheim Ducks (via Edmonton Oilers) - Julius Miettinen – C - Everett (WHL)

Miettinen improved by leaps and bounds over the course of the year and represents a big body with skill. His skating took a big leap from the beginning of the year to the end, and it has really improved his projection as a top six forward. Anaheim really seems to favor forwards with a well-rounded profile and that’s Miettinen.

#32. Philadelphia Flyers (via Florida Panthers) - Ben Danford – D - Oshawa (OHL)

This pick might surprise some people, but Danford is a player who rocketed up rankings in the second half as part of an Oshawa team that went to the OHL finals. He’s one of the better defensive players in the draft; a shot blocking expert who has terrific defensive instincts. He’s also a strong skater who has shown flashes of more offensively. Shades of Oliver Bonk here and that worked out really well so far.

—----------------------------

#33. San Jose Sharks - Dean Letourneau – C - St. Andrew's (CHS-Ontario)

There’s definitely a chance that Letourneau goes in the first, but we feel that teams may be more comfortable using a second on a prep player given that many of those chosen in the first have not developed well. The Sharks can take a chance on Letourneau, given the team’s window is a ways away. The big man oozes upside because of his athleticism.

#34. Chicago Blackhawks - Henry Mews – D - Ottawa (OHL)

With the Hawks focusing so much on strong skating ability, Mews makes sense here. He’s a terrific four-way mover who possesses excellent upside as an offensive defender. He’s a creative rush attacker and his defense did improve over the course of the season.

#35. Anaheim Ducks - Terik Parascak – RW - Prince George (WHL)

A highly intelligent playmaker, Parascak makes up for only average skating by being a step ahead of others mentally. He’s skilled. He’s tenacious. He projects as a quality complementary piece in the top six and he would fit in perfectly with what Anaheim already has in the system.

#36. Philadelphia Flyers (via Columbus Blue Jackets) - Sacha Boisvert – C - Muskegon (USHL)

Why not double down on a top goal scorer? After drafting the draft’s best in Cole Eiserman, the Flyers now take one of the other best options in power center Sasha Boivert. His skating needs to continue to improve, but he can really fire it.

#37. Winnipeg Jets (via Montreal Canadiens) - Cole Hutson – D - U. S. NTDP U18

Wouldn’t it be fitting if the Jets used the Montreal pick to select Lane’s brother Cole? Cole battled some injuries this year, but he closed out the year on a high note by returning for the U18’s. He can control the tempo with his handling ability and mobility. His defensive game is also probably more advanced compared to Lane’s at the same age.

#38. Utah Hockey Club - Teddy Stiga – C - U. S. NTDP U18

Back-to-back NTDP members are chosen here as Stiga ends up being Utah’s pick. He is a terrific complementary piece who was one of the NTDP’s most improved players this year. He plays at a feverish pace, and he is skilled and intelligent enough to play with high end, creative playmakers. Could be the perfect future linemate for Logan Cooley.

#39. Ottawa Senators - Linus Eriksson – C - Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)

Erikson is a strong skating, two-way center with a strong chance of developing into an excellent and versatile middle six piece. He was solid for Sweden internationally this year and adds great depth to Ottawa’s center position down the line.

#40. Seattle Kraken - Will Skahan – D - U. S. NTDP U18

One of the draft’s most physical defenders, Skahan is big, reasonably mobile, and projects as a top four shutdown blueliner. Seattle has never really drafted a player like Skahan, and we would argue that in order for them to take that next step, they’ll need players like him in the Pacific.

#41. Calgary Flames - Dominik Badinka – D - Malmo (SHL)

Strong, two-way defender who played a ton at the SHL level. His true offensive upside was hidden by playing sheltered minutes against men. The Flames opt for defense here and have had some luck taking Swedish based defenders in recent years (Badinka is Czech but played out of Sweden).

#42. San Jose Sharks (via New Jersey Devils) - Andrew Basha – LW - Medicine Hat (WHL)

The Sharks opt for a bit of a safer selection at this spot after really rolling the dice with the previous two picks. Basha is an excellent complementary piece who projects as someone who can elevate the play of a creative and skilled pivot. He could be the perfect linemate for the likes of Celebrini, Smith, or Eklund because he is skilled and does the dirty work to open up ice.

#43. Buffalo Sabres - Maxim Masse – RW - Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Buffalo makes Masse the first QMJHL player off the board. He’s one of the better pure goal scorers in the draft and he plays a mature, pro style game that sees him get to the middle of the ice. The skating needs to keep improving, but this is a player who could fit in well with some of the others in Buffalo’s system.

#44. Pittsburgh Penguins (via Philadelphia Flyers) - Lucas Pettersson – C - MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)

With their first pick in the draft, the Penguins opt for Swedish center Lucas Pettersson. He’s a strong skating, two-way pivot who projects as a solid middle six piece who can play in a variety of different situations. Building up prospect depth needs to be a focus of Kyle Dubas, after the system was bled dry for the last half a decade.

#45. Minnesota Wild - Brodie Ziemer – RW - U. S. NTDP U18

A Minnesota native heading to the University of Minnesota, the Wild get the captain of this year’s NTDP. He projects as a terrific complementary piece in the top nine who can help bring out the best in more skilled players. He plays a heavier game, which fits in with the theme that Minnesota seems to be focusing on at the draft in recent years.

#46. Pittsburgh Penguins - Aron Kiviharju – D - HIFK (Fin-Liiga)

If there is a team that is going to take a chance on Kiviharju bringing everything together, the Penguins make a ton of sense. With a couple of seconds, they should be focusing on bringing in high upside players and Kiviharju is just that. Is there concern that he has plateaued? Absolutely. However, there’s also a chance that injuries this year really prevented him from being at his best.

#47. Detroit Red Wings - Leon Muggli – D - Zug (Sui-NL)

The Red Wings opt for Leon Muggli, a Swiss defender who really emerged as a top-notch NHL prospect this year. He showed well playing against men in the NL. He’s intelligent and mobile and should have a solid floor as an NHL rearguard in some capacity.

#48. St. Louis Blues - Matvei Shuravin – C - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

Long and lean Russian defender with intriguing two-way upside. He was a player who was hard to get a read on this year with his limited minutes in the KHL, however he has an intriguing combination of size and mobility. It’s possible that he reminds the Blues of drafting Colton Parayko back in the day.

#49. Utah Hockey Club (via Washington Capitals) - Yegor Surin – C - Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)

Utah and their scouts have not been shy about selecting Russian players in recent drafts. Surin is better than the 49th player selected. He is a competitive, but skilled pivot who could end up developing into a versatile player for Utah down the line. Maybe the perfect linemate for fellow Russian Daniil But?

#50. Chicago Blackhawks (via New York Islanders) - John Mustard – C - Waterloo (USHL)

One of the best names in the draft, but also one of the best skaters. Mustard had a breakout campaign in the USHL this year. He’s an explosive player and a talented goal scorer. However, he is also an intense competitor, something that should make Mustard an NHL player in some capacity if the offensive game doesn’t translate.

#51. Philadelphia Flyers (Compensation Pick for Jay O’Brien) - Ryder Ritchie – RW - Prince Albert (WHL)

Ranked as a first rounder by us, there is thought that we are higher on him than NHL scouts after a bit of a disappointing second half mired by injuries. Ritchie is a competitive winger who plays bigger than his size (excuse the cliche). He has solid upside as a complementary piece on a scoring line. This is a nice swing for Philadelphia with their compensation pick.

#52. Washington Capitals (via Vegas Golden Knights) - Marek Vanacker – LW - Brantford (OHL)

The Capitals opt for speedy Hamilton winger Marek Vanacker, the last of our first round graded players. He was extremely consistent all year long and has intriguing offensive upside because of the pace he can play at. Washington would be very familiar with him thanks to their scouting of Patrick Thomas.

#53. Nashville Predators (via Tampa Bay Lightning) - Heikki Ruohonen – C - Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-U20)

The Preds have long loved Finnish players, with a strong presence in that market. Ruohonen was one of the biggest risers in the second half of the year; he was excellent at the U18’s for the Finns. He is a competitive, two-way, power center eventually heading to Harvard.

#54. New York Islanders (via Los Angeles Kings) - Adam Kleber – D - Lincoln (USHL)

Kleber is a massive defender whose game really improved over the second half of the year. His mobility, in particular, really took a positive step forward. The USHL rearguard projects as a physical stay at home type, but he does flash some intriguing offensive tools too.

#55. Nashville Predators - Mikhail Yegorov – G - Omaha (USHL)

There has been a ton of talk about Nashville moving on from Juuse Saros, handing over the keys to Askarov. However, there isn’t much of a back-up plan behind Askarov if he doesn't pan out. Taking a goalie makes sense for the Preds in round two and Yegorov is an excellent athlete who their goaltending development coaches can really work with.

#56. St. Louis Blues (via Toronto Maple Leafs) - Luke Misa – C - Mississauga (OHL)

Misa is a speedy, two-way forward who projects as a solid middle six option for St. Louis down the line. He had a solid year for Mississauga in the OHL and is the type of player who could move quickly through the system as a later birthday.

#57. Montreal Canadiens (via Colorado Avalanche) - Tory Pitner - Youngstown (USHL)

Montreal has done well by selecting heady defenders in recent years and Pitner is definitely that. He’s one of the draft's most intelligent blueliners, especially in the defensive end. He competes hard and projects as a solid two-way, second pairing type.

#58. Anaheim Ducks (via Boston Bruins) - Tarin Smith – D - Everett (WHL)

A team with an already loaded defensive talent pool can afford to take chances on high upside defenders like Smith. He’s very raw, but his physical tools are excellent. He skates well. He can create offense. How it all comes together remains to be seen, but Anaheim can afford to be patient.

#59. Nashville Predators (via Winnipeg Jets) - Adam Jecho – C - Edmonton (WHL)

An enigma to the highest degree, Jecho is one of the draft’s ultimate boom or bust prospects. At times, he dominates in the offensive end with his size and skill. Other times, he looks lumbering, lazy, and disengaged. Which Jecho will emerge as the real one? Nashville has always loved wingers like this with high end physical tools.

#60. Carolina Hurricanes - Nikita Artamonov – LW - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

This just seems like an amazing fit. The Canes have loved players like Artamanov. High end processor. Not the quickest or most physical, but efficient. They’ve also been one of the most aggressive NHL franchises in drafting Russian talent recently.

#61. New York Islanders (via Vancouver Canucks) - AJ Spellacy – RW - Windsor (OHL)

Spellacy was outstanding in the second half of the OHL season after he fully recovered from a knee injury. He has great length and speed and projects as a high end third line player who can be an elite penalty killer and defensive forward. The last Windsor forward NYI took worked out well.

#62. Calgary Flames (via Dallas Stars) - Raoul Boilard – C - Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

What’s the finished product going to look like with Boilard? This is completely unknown due to some consistency issues. However, the Flames need to improve their center depth in the organization and Boilard is a rangy pivot who could end up being a solid middle six piece.

#63. Seattle Kraken (via New York Rangers) - Jesse Pulkkinen – D - JYP (Fin-Liiga)

The first re-entry to go in this mock draft, Seattle has not shied away from selecting players outside of their first year of eligibility. Pulkkinen is a big offensive defender who plays an aggressive style. He needs major refinement, but the tools are there.

#64. Edmonton Oilers - Pavel Moysevich – G - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Have to think the Oilers go with a goalie here if there is one on the board that they really like. Moysevich is a re-entry who was fantastic in the KHL this past season. He is one of the draft’s best athletes and he could move quickly through the system.

#65. Utah Hockey Club (via Florida Panthers) - Jack Pridham – RW - West Kelowna (BCHL)

There is a connection between Utah (previously Arizona) and the St. Andrew’s College program of late. Pridham is a graduate of that program who had a solid year in the BCHL. He is a big winger with great skating ability. The upside is a bit of a mystery, but the tools are legitimate.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL DRAFT GUIDE – TOP 32 FINAL RANKINGS

Brock Otten — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 16:00:27 +0000

It’s that time! The McKeen’s scouting staff has finalized our final rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft ahead of the release of our draft guide releasing soon. This year, the McKeen’s team has made the executive decision to rank 300 players outright, rather than include honorable mentions. This is a change in our previous methodology.

As has been the case all season long, Macklin Celebrini remains our top ranked prospect and we expect him to be the first overall selection by the San Jose Sharks. Rounding out the top five are Russian winger Ivan Demidov, London defenseman Sam Dickinson, power center Cayden Lindstrom, and the fast-rising Tij Iginla. Iginla was ranked 12th on our midseason list, but his strong finish to the WHL season, coupled with his excellent U18 performance, has elevated him into our top five.

Filling out our top ten are Michigan State defender Artyom Levshunov, spark plug center Berkly Catton, towering defender Anton Silayev, Denver defender Zeev Buium, and Western defender Carter Yakemchuk. Buium moves up from 15th at midseason thanks to his remarkable consistency all year long, in addition to a great Frozen Four performance for Denver. While Russian blueliner Silayev moves out of our top five after a lukewarm second half that saw his offensive production drop off.

Other players who have elevated their stock significantly include Norwegian defender Stian Solberg, Oshawa winger Beckett Sennecke, NTDP defender EJ Emery, Finnish power forward Julius Miettinen, offensive blueliner Cole Hutson, gritty Barrie forward Cole Beaudoin, Oshawa defender Ben Danford, and speedy Brantford winger Marek Vanacker. Solberg jumps up over 30 spots, springboarding into our first round after a terrific second half in the Norwegian men’s league, followed by an eye-opening performance at the men’s World Championships. The athletic and projectable Sennecke also makes a huge jump, from the late first to the earlier first after an outstanding second half and playoff performance for Oshawa, helping the team make the OHL finals.

Other players who have seen their stock drop include Henry Mews, Adam Jecho, Maxim Masse, Raoul Boilard, Jesse Pulkkinen, Aron Kiviharju, and Simon Zether. Ottawa defender Henry Mews has fallen out of our first round due to consistency and defensive engagement concerns. We still value his upside but believe other players have had stronger second half pushes. The same can be said about Finnish defender Aron Kiviharju. Injuries derailed his development this year and his performance at the U18’s (albeit coming off a long layoff) was uninspiring.

As far as goaltenders go, none cracked our top 50. We love the depth for the position this year, and as such, we would feel more comfortable waiting longer to select our first netminder in 2024. Owen Sound’s Carter George, and Russian netminders Pavel Moysevich and Mikhail Yegorov are our top netminders.

Overall, the strength of this draft crop has really grown on us as a scouting team. Early on in the season, we weren’t enamored with the quality of top end players available, nor the depth. The defenseman group available has always been deemed as strong, but what has really elevated this crop is the fact that so many forwards finished the year well, altering their projection and draft standing. We feel that those drafting inside the top 20 have a great chance of grabbing a high impact player.

Look for the release of our 2024 Draft Guide soon (Week of June 10^th). It will include all of our rankings and reports, a mock draft, a preview of the 2025 NHL Draft, and much more.

Subscribers can see the full Top 300 Ranking here.

If you are interested in a subscription, you can learn more here.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	HT/WT	DOB	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	PTS	PIM
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	6-0/190	13-Jun-06	Boston University (HE)	38	32	32	64	18
2	Ivan Demidov	RW	5-11/180	10-Dec-05	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	30	23	37	60	20
3	Sam Dickinson	D	6-3/200	7-Jun-06	London (OHL)	68	18	52	70	30
4	Cayden Lindstrom	C	6-3/210	3-Feb-06	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66
5	Tij Iginla	C	6-0/185	1-Aug-06	Kelowna (WHL)	64	47	37	84	35
6	Artyom Levshunov	D	6-2/205	28-Oct-05	Michigan State (B1G)	38	9	26	35	44
7	Berkly Catton	C	5-10/170	14-Jan-06	Spokane (WHL)	68	54	62	116	41
8	Anton Silayev	D	6-7/210	11-Apr-06	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	63	3	8	11	10
9	Zeev Buium	D	6-0/185	7-Dec-05	Denver (NCHC)	42	11	39	50	20
10	Carter Yakemchuk	D	6-3/200	29-Sep-05	Calgary (WHL)	66	30	41	71	120
11	Zayne Parekh	D	6-0/180	15-Feb-06	Saginaw (OHL)	66	33	63	96	64
12	Michael Hage	C	6-0/190	14-Apr-06	Chicago (USHL)	54	33	42	75	53
13	Konsta Helenius	C	5-11/180	11-May-06	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	22	36	10
14	Beckett Sennecke	RW	6-2/175	28-Jan-06	Oshawa (OHL)	63	27	41	68	67
15	Cole Eiserman	LW	6-0/195	29-Aug-06	USN U18 (USDP)	57	58	31	89	34
16	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	RW	6-1/195	5-Oct-05	Mora (Allsvenskan)	41	8	10	18	19
17	Liam Greentree	RW	6-2/210	1-Jan-06	Windsor (OHL)	64	36	54	90	33
18	Trevor Connelly	LW	6-0/160	28-Feb-06	Tri-City (USHL)	52	31	47	78	88
19	Alfons Freij	D	6-0/185	12-Feb-06	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	40	14	19	33	14
20	EJ Emery	D	6-3/185	30-Mar-06	USN U18 (USDP)	61	0	16	16	61
21	Jett Luchanko	C	5-11/185	21-Aug-06	Guelph (OHL)	68	20	54	74	36
22	Harrison Brunicke	D	6-2/185	8-May-06	Kamloops (WHL)	49	10	11	21	47
23	Stian Solberg	D	6-2/195	29-Dec-05	Valerenga (Norway)	42	5	10	15	47
24	Adam Jiricek	D	6-2/180	28-Jun-06	Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2
25	Emil Hemming	RW	6-1/200	27-Jun-06	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	40	7	4	11	0
26	Ryder Ritchie	RW	6-0/175	3-Aug-06	Prince Albert (WHL)	47	19	25	44	24
27	Dominik Badinka	D	6-3/185	27-Nov-05	Malmo (SHL)	33	1	3	4	6
28	Sacha Boisvert	C	6-2/180	17-Mar-06	Muskegon (USHL)	61	36	32	68	86
29	Julius Miettinen	C	6-2/205	20-Jan-06	Everett (WHL)	66	31	36	67	32
30	Yegor Surin	C	6-1/190	1-Aug-06	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	42	22	30	52	108
31	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	5-11/175	10-Apr-06	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	43	11	31	42	38
32	Marek Vanacker	LW	6-0/175	12-Apr-06	Brantford (OHL)	68	36	46	82	55

2024 NHL DRAFT: FULL FIRST ROUND MOCK DRAFT – 32 PICKS

Steven Graves — Fri, 10 May 2024 16:09:44 +0000

NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 1: NCAA men's hockey at Lawler Rink on December 1, 2023 in North Andover, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

With the Draft Lottery now concluded - we now know definitively where all the lottery selections are situated. Mind you, nothing changed from before the draft, but I digress. This draft really opens up at #2 after Macklin Celebrini. There are a ton of great defenders that offer high end potential, a few high-octane offensive forwards, and a couple of raw toolsy players that scream the word “upside”. There is no consensus after #1 so it’ll be fascinating to see how this class goes. Here’s my shot at it:

#1: San Jose Sharks - C - Macklin Celebrini

After a horrid season that saw the Sharks finish as the worst team in the NHL, the organization will be rewarded with a potential franchise altering talent in Macklin Celebrini. Celebrini will return to the Bay Area where he spent some of his formative years growing up, as his father - Rick Celebrini works with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, so Macklin is quite familiar already. He will step right into the NHL next season and projects as a #1 center. For a franchise that has been in a rough patch the past few seasons, getting a talent like Celebrini will really help the team going forward.

#2: Chicago Blackhawks - RW - Ivan Demidov

The Chicago Blackhawks are a team that is difficult to pinpoint who they’ll select, they’re a team that are in need of everything. Because of this I have them selecting the second most talented player in this class in Ivan Demidov. He might just be the most skilled player in the draft class. If he had played in North America this season, there is a chance he could have challenged Celebrini for #1. Demidov is an offensive weapon that can leave your jaw on the floor watching him play - Pairing him next to Connor Bedard could see both players putting up gaudy offensive totals playing off of each other and could set up Chicago’s offense for years to come.

#3: Anaheim Ducks - C/RW - Konsta Helenius

Anaheim is a weird team for this draft, they’re a team that needs time more than anything because they have a lot of talent already in their system, it’s just a few years too soon before we start to see that translate in the NHL. Looking throughout their roster they’re set up well for the future up the middle and on the back end. They have Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson at center and on defence you have promising players in Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov and Tristian Luneau. There is improvement to be had on the wing, however as Cutter Gauthier and Troy Terry are really the only two names of note. Because of this at this spot I have them selecting Konsta Helenius, a player who can play both center and wing, however I have him as more of a winger in the NHL. He is a very mature player that can be a fantastic complementary piece to more skilled linemates. He is a great 200’ player and a kid that will complement bigger guys like Gauthier, McTavish and Carlsson well.

#4: Columbus Blue Jackets - LD - Anton Silayev

Columbus’ biggest need right now is probably on defense and a shutdown defender at that. Anton Silayev is one of the most polarizing players in this class, he is massive at 6’7” and just finished the season playing full time in the KHL, something that never happens for 17-year-old defenders. However, after having a red-hot start in the KHL, he really cooled down in the last 40 or so games. Silayev provides some of the most intriguing upside in the draft - it’s not often a 6’7” defender that can skate, move the puck well and be imposing physically come through the NHL draft. Columbus would be betting on that upside coming to fruition as the NHL returns to valuing big defenders as it has shown to be successful come playoff time.

#5: Montreal Canadiens - C - Cayden Lindstrom

Montreal definitely won’t be scared away from drafting a big, fast, toolsy forward this year after seeing how well Juraj Slafkovsky played in his sophomore campaign in the NHL. Lindstrom would be a massive get for Montreal as they’ll finally get that big center that the franchise has been yearning for in what seems like forever. Lindstrom has some of the most fascinating upside in this draft class, and Montreal would be ecstatic to get him into their organization.

#6: Utah - RD - Artyom Levshunov

The former Arizona Coyotes could go many directions at this spot, they have many great prospects in their system and there isn’t an obvious position of need. I have them going for the best player I believe will be available in this spot in Artyom Levshunov. Levshunov is one of the most NHL ready players in this draft and would be a massive get for the new Utah franchise. He would shore up the right side of the defense on this Utah team moving forward and should give the team a very good top four defender, moving forward with potential of being more than that.

#7: Ottawa Senators - RW - Tij Iginla

Two years in a row the Ottawa Senators have traded out of the draft lottery. They will make their selection this year following a very disappointing season in which they had playoff aspirations. At this spot I have them taking one of the most improved players in the class in Tij Iginla. Tij, the son of former Calgary Flames captain and Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla saw a massive spike in production this year after getting moved to Kelowna from Seattle. He went from .38 points per game last year to 1.31 points per game this year. A fantastic progression from last year. Ottawa will hope Iginla becomes a great offensive player that is able to contribute physically to help them as they seek the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

#8: Seattle Kraken - LD - Sam Dickinson

With the 8th overall selection, I have the Seattle Kraken picking London Knights defender Sam Dickinson. The 6’ 3” left shot Dickinson would be a godsend for Seattle as there are scouts who think he could end up being the best defenseman in the draft. He is a strong skating two-way defender that can impact the game in all three zones, there are question marks about his decision-making ability but there is just too much to like about Dickinson for Seattle to not pick him if he falls to this spot. In a few years, you can conceivably see him becoming Seattle’s #1 defender, and getting that value at #8 overall would make their fans very happy.

#9: Calgary Flames - RW - Beckett Sennecke

This is a tough pick to nail down, Calgary could go many different directions here, but I have them taking one of the most interesting prospects in the second half of the season in Oshawa Generals forward Beckett Sennecke. Sennecke who stood at just 5’ 10” just two seasons ago now stands at 6’ 3”. Through his growth spurt he has kept his strong offensive skill set and clearly is still adjusting to the change. The name of the game for him is “potential” because he hasn’t learned to use his newfound size yet and still needs to fill out to put him in a position to better utilize that size, If Sennecke’s playoffs are anything to go off of, it shows that he is just scratching the surface on what he could become, and Calgary would be a great franchise to help him harness his potential.

#10: New Jersey Devils - LD - Zeev Buium

The New Jersey Devils already have a great group of defenders but if they’re lucky enough to have a talent like Zeev Buium fall to them at #10, they’re going to jump at that opportunity. He gives the Devils one of the most exciting young defensive cores in the NHL with Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes already in the fold. Buium just had one of the best freshman campaigns in NCAA history and is fresh off a national championship with Denver. He would solidify a Devil’s defense that is already seen as promising.

#11: Buffalo Sabres - C - Berkly Catton

With the 11th overall selection in the 2024 draft, I have the Buffalo Sabres going for one of the most talented offensive players in the draft in Berkly Catton. Catton, a former first overall selection in the WHL draft had a massive year for Spokane in the WHL where he had 54 goals and 114 points in 68 games - good for 4th in league scoring. Catton is a couple years away from being a full time NHL player but with Buffalo on the upswing, they can afford to wait a couple years. Simply put, Buffalo would be getting the best player available at this spot.

#12: Philadelphia Flyers - RD - Carter Yakemchuk

At number twelve, the Philadelphia Flyers select Carter Yakemchuk. Yakemchuk would be heading into a really good situation in Philadelphia since other than Oliver Bonk, their defensive prospects are looking rather thin. He is a big defender that loves to push pace with the puck on his stick, he is able to take over in the offensive zone at times and loves to activate from the blueline. While a dangerous offensive defender, he will need to focus on his play in his own zone to really reach his potential.

#13: Minnesota Wild - RD- Zayne Parekh

Minnesota would be jumping for joy if a talent like Parekh falls to them at this point. They would get one of the best offensive defenders to come through the NHL Draft in a long time. He delivered one of the best seasons as a draft eligible defender in nearly 35 years, tallying 33 goals and 96 points for Saginaw in the OHL. Parekh is deadly in the offensive zone. He is able to manipulate defenders and open shooting lanes like very few defenders can. As a result, he is able to get great shot opportunities that more often than not beat the goalie or create rebound chances. He has star potential written all over him - unfortunately there are some red flags with his game and his defensive engagement is a work in progress. Because of those concerns can see him falling in the draft.

#14: San Jose Sharks (Via Pittsburgh) - LW - Cole Eiserman

With the selection acquired via the Erik Karlsson trade, the Sharks will select a player who was once thought to be Celebrini’s biggest challenger for #1. Eiserman is a deadly goal scorer and is the best one in the draft class. He just surpassed Cole Caufield’s USNTDP record for goals for the program with 127. Unfortunately, he didn’t see much improvement in his game from last year and it allows San Jose an opportunity to snag him here and potentially pair him with Celebrini as a potential trigger man for that could see the two set themselves up for success for many years.

#15; Detroit Red Wings - RW - Liam Greentree

After a fantastic season that saw them miss out on the last playoff spot by an empty net goal, the Detroit Red Wings are in win now mode. They have a ton of promising prospects that have yet to graduate to the NHL, however they don’t have a player that can dominate as a net front presence. That’s why I have them selecting the Windsor Spitfires captain here. Greentree had a fantastic year for the OHL’s second worst team, scoring 90 points when the second leading scorer on his team had 66. Greentree is a very intelligent big, bodied forward that puts himself in great positions to score and is great around the net. Detroit could use a kid like him as they start to make the playoffs consistently in the future.

#16: St.Louis Blues - LW - Trevor Connelly

St.Louis was the last team to miss the playoffs after catching fire following the trade deadline. At one point this season, they were looking like they would be a player in the lottery for first overall. While the results were encouraging for next season, it landed them at 16^th, and will land on Trevor Connelly, one of the highest scoring players in the USHL this season. He is a big, bodied forward that is able to skate well and create plays for himself, he isn’t afraid to use his size to his advantage and can produce in many different ways. There are questions teams will have to answer here, and he could fall further, but probably the most talented option left on the board.

#17: Washington Capitals - C - Michael Hage

With the 17th pick the Washington Capitals select Chicago Steel centerman Michael Hage. After missing nearly his entire 16-year-old season to injury, Hage came into the year on a mission. He had a fantastic offensive campaign that showcased his ability to affect the game in both the offensive and defensive zones. With both Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov leaving the franchise in the past 12 months, they’re going to be in need of centermen going forward and Hage is the best one at this spot in the draft.

#18: New York Islanders - LW - Teddy Stiga

The New York Islanders are a team that always seems to like to go for fast, pesky forwards that can really change the tempo of the game when they’re on the ice. Guys like J. G. Pageau, Casey Cizkas and Cal Clutterbuck are just a few examples of this. Teddy Stiga of the USNTDP is yet another example of this, he is a kid who has seen incredible progression since last year. He went from being a bottom six energy forward to showcasing a previously unknown offensive skill set that could make him a great complementary piece in the NHL one day. One of this year’s biggest risers and a player that just seems like an Islander pick.

#19: Vegas Golden Knights - LD - Alfons Freij

With an aging Vegas blueline and the lack of quality defensive prospects in their system - I suspect the franchise will be targeting a defender with this selection. One of the best ones at this spot is Alfons Freij, a great skating two-way defender that has shown great improvement in his offensive game as the year has progressed. Freij would be in a great position to succeed in Vegas if given the proper time to develop. He could be a key piece to building this blueline in the future.

#20: Chicago Blackhawks (Via Tampa Bay) - RW - Michael Brandsegg-Nygard

With the pick that Chicago received in the Brandon Hagel trade, the Blackhawks go with Michael Brandsegg Nygard, poised to be the highest drafted Norwegian player in the history of the NHL Draft. Nygård is a kid that may not be able to create offense for himself, but he is going to put himself in positions to score and to get the puck. Having a center as smart as Bedard could really elevate a big, bodied winger like Nygard, since he doesn’t need the puck on his stick to be effective. He is excellent at moving his feet, keeping up with the pace of play, and has some of the best off-puck positioning in the class. Truly a player that is destined to succeed next to a Bedard level talent.

#21: Los Angeles Kings - RD - Adam Jiricek

It was a nightmare season for Adam Jiricek who started the season off poorly in Czechia’s top men’s league then was injured at the World Juniors and missed the rest of the season. Los Angeles could be a team that takes a gamble on the talent of Jiricek. Before he was injured, he was seen as a potential top-10 selection for the draft. He has a lot of what you want as a defender, good size, skating, defensive play along with good offensive instincts. It’s impossible to know how he has progressed since the injury and it would be a risky selection, but one absolutely worth making if you’re LA.

#22: Nashville Predators - LD - Matvei Shuravin

Nashville has been a defensive factory since their inception into the NHL. They have churned out quality defenders one after another. I have them going with the big Russian rearguard with the 22nd spot here. Shuravin is a 6’ 4” Russian defender that possesses strong skating and great defensive abilities. He’s still rather raw and needs to continue to improve his offensive game as well as learn to harness his size more effectively, but he is a project defender that could really explode into the NHL in a few seasons if given the right development time. I think Nashville is the perfect spot for that to come to fruition.

#23: Toronto Maple Leafs - RD - Ben Danford

Toronto addresses their biggest need with their first-round selection this year, as Ben Danford of the Oshawa Generals is a right-shot, top pairing defender that enjoyed a great season for the OHL’s Eastern Conference champions. It’s so difficult to get defenders like Danford via trade in the NHL, so your best bet is to draft them. It will take a few years for him to play in the NHL, but if he develops as intended, he could be a nightmare to play against in the NHL. The Maple Leafs sorely need a player like him.

#24: Anaheim Ducks (Via Edmonton) - LW - Nikita Artamonov

With the puck acquired via the Adam Henrique trade, I have the Anaheim Ducks going with Nikita Artamonov. Artamonov quietly had one of the most impressive statistical outputs ever for a 17-year-old in the KHL. Artamonov is a few years away from the NHL, however the Ducks are a great place for him since they’re loaded with great prospects already, and can be patient with as he further develops his game in Russia. Hopefully by the time he comes overseas, the Ducks will already be competing for a playoff spot,

#25: Colorado Avalanche - RD - E. J. Emery

In this spot I have the Avs going with one of the rawest prospects in the draft class in American E. J. Emery. He is no sure thing. He has a lot that he needs to work on with his game, but he also has some very intriguing upside. He is a defense-first defender that is intimidating to play against. He can shut down opponents by using his skating and long stick to keep opponents at bay. There are decision making concerns here, and there is limited offensive potential, but he could be a perfect complementary piece for a more offensive minded partner. Colorado would love to have someone like Emery in their system down the road.

#26: Ottawa Senators (Via Boston) - RD - Dominik Badinka

Ottawa’s second selection of the first round, a selection they received in the Alex DeBrincat trade. With this pick I have them going for a right-handed defender in Dominik Badinka. Badinka is a late born ‘05 born and played a majority of the past season in the SHL. He is 6’ 3” and isn’t afraid to lay the body. His skating is great and has some offensive skill as well. The right side of Ottawa’s defense needs a lot of help, getting Badinka here would be a step in the right direction for the Sens.

#27: Montreal Canadiens (Via Winnipeg) - LW - Igor Chernyshov

Montreal will go for the best player still on the board with this selection, and that is Russian power forward Igor Chernyshov. He is a strong skating big body who really showcased a lot of potential playing in Russia this year. He could be scratching the surface of what he could be offensively. There is still a lot of growth to be done with his game. Montreal would love to take that bet here with the selection they received in the Sean Monahan trade.

#28: Carolina Hurricanes - C - Cole Beaudoin

Carolina’s drafting in the past five or so years has been clinical. They constantly find talent in every round of the draft and have one of the league's best prospect pools despite being one of the league's best teams year in, year out. In this spot they go with Cole Beaudoin out of Barrie in the OHL. Cole doesn’t have the best upside to be a top six player in the NHL but looks to be a sure bet to be a very good bottom sixer going forward. He has a fantastic motor and is relentless on the forecheck. He really has a game suited for the NHL.

#29: Calgary Flames (Via Vancouver) - C - Jett Luchenko

With the pick Calgary acquired in the Elias Lindholm deal they go with Guelph Storm pest Jett Luchenko. Luchenko is just a honey badger. He always has his feet going and always wants to do something on the ice. The Flames will bet on Luchenko being a bottom six energy guy going forward and a key piece to when they start to compete for a playoff spot again.

#30: Philadelphia Flyers (Via Florida) - RW - Sam O’Reilly

At #30, I gave the Flyers going with a player that has seen steady progression as the year has gone on with Sam O’Reilly. O’Reilly is a teammate of last year’s first round pick, Oliver Bonk, and Denver Barkey, so you know the Flyers are very familiar with him. O’Reilly has really showcased an excellent two-way game all season long. He has been a consistent contributor in all three zones and has potential to hit another level offensively next season.

#31: Dallas Stars - RW - Emil Hemming

Hemming is one of the better goal scorers in the draft, I have Dallas going here to help replenish their prospect pool after seeing a good number of graduations as of late. The Finnish winger is a goal scoring power forward that can really rip the puck. He showcased this ability at the U18’s. He has flaws, but at this point in the draft I don’t know how you can go wrong betting on a player like Hemming.

#32: New York Rangers - C - Sacha Boisvert

With the last pick in the first round, I have the Rangers going for centreman Sacha Boisvert. Boisvert had a great year in the USHL for Muskegon and plans to go to the University of North Dakota next year. He is an offensive centreman that can be really dangerous in front of the net. He can finish off plays to great effect and isn’t afraid to stand his ground. The Rangers would be very happy to add a player like Boisvert to their pipeline.

2024 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 32 – Celebrini sits comfortably on top – Demidov and Parekh among risers in ranking – Strong defense group defines this draft class

Brock Otten — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:00:23 +0000

It’s time to update and expand our 2024 NHL Draft rankings. Since our preliminary ranking in December, we’ve passed some major events on the scouting calendar, like the World Juniors, CHL Top Prospect’s Game, World Junior A Challenge, and the USA Hockey All American Game.

Macklin Celebrini still sits comfortably at the top of our rankings. Not only has he continued to be a difference maker for Boston University, but he was also a solid contributor at the World Juniors for an underwhelming Canadian team, an impressive feat for a double underager. In our opinion, he is unquestionably the top prospect available this year and is the one player we view as a near surefire high impact player at the NHL level.

One player moving up our ranking inside the top ten is Ivan Demidov. While ice time issues have limited his impact at the KHL level, he has been an absolute monster at the MHL level and in a draft that we feel lacks high end upside, he stands out as a potential difference maker. One player falling inside of our top ten is Cole Eiserman. While the goal scoring ability is unquestionably impressive, we’ve been left wanting more from the rest of his game and feel that his development is showing signs of plateauing.

Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh is another big-time mover and shaker for us as he pushes his way inside the top ten. At this point, his production and offensive upside is too vast to ignore. Yes, there are questions regarding his defensive game. Yes, there are questions about how he fits into an NHL system given Saginaw’s unique modern approach. However, the skill and sense are so high end that we believe the reward outweighs the risk.

Other movers and shakers include Jett Luchanko (40th to 18th), Alfons Freij (32nd to 21st), Harrison Brunicke (HM to 25th), and Dom Badinka (58th to 28th). Luchanko is a speedy, playmaking pivot who brings consistent effort in all three zones. As he bulks up, he should be able to become a more consistent point producer. Freij has been terrific internationally this year for the Swedish U18 team and is starting to remind us of Tom Willander in regard to his steady presence on the ice at both ends. Brunicke is a very mobile, right-handed shot defender with size who remains a work in progress. He flashes high end skill and upside in the defensive end, and we believe that he is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of. Dom Badinka has a similar profile to Freij in the sense that he has a very projectable frame and skill set. He has been steadily improving in the SHL this year with Malmo and the Czech blueliner projects as an all situations top four, right shot blueliner.

Overall, 2024 is still holding strong as a quality draft for defenders. In fact, 14 of our first round graded players are defenseman. On the other hand, the strength of this goaltending crop remains to be seen. OHL netminders Carter George and Ryerson Leenders remain our top ranked goalies and the only ones inside of our Top 70. There are others pushing up the list (like NTDP netminder Nick Kempf and WHL re-entry Lukas Matecha), but it’s not looking like the ideal year to use a high pick on a stopper.

In the coming weeks, expect to see a podcast on our new YT channel (here), where Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, Associate Director of Scouting, Derek Neumeier, and Director of Video Scouting, Josh Bell, debate the midseason list and provide some insight into why certain players are ranked where they are.

RK	Name	POS	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	TP	PIM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	25	22	19	41	10	6-0/190	13-Jun-06
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	52	14	39	53	24	6-3/195	7-Jun-06
3	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	23	20	25	45	16	5-11/170	10-Dec-05
4	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	57	3	8	11	8	6-7/210	11-Apr-06
5	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66	6-4/215	3-Feb-06
6	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	49	38	44	82	37	5-11/170	14-Jan-06
7	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	30	8	20	28	40	6-2/200	28-Oct-05
8	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	40	12	19	31	6	5-11/180	11-May-06
9	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	37	38	22	60	28	6-0/195	29-Aug-06
10	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	49	25	49	74	40	6-0/180	15-Feb-06
11	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	48	24	29	53	95	6-3/190	29-Sep-05
12	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	48	35	28	63	25	6-0/185	1-Aug-06
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	46	28	41	69	25	6-2/200	1-Jan-06
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	34	17	31	48	40	6-1/160	28-Feb-06
15	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	26	7	27	34	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
16	Michael Brandsegg Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	32	6	7	13	14	6-1/195	5-Oct-05
17	Adam Jiříček	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2	6-2/175	28-Jun-06
18	Jett Luchanko	C	Guelph (OHL)	50	17	37	54	32	5-11/185	21-Aug-06
19	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	22	0	7	7	26	6-2/170	22-Mar-06
20	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	37	21	23	44	35	6-1/190	14-Apr-06
21	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	33	11	15	26	12	6-1/190	12-Feb-06
22	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	35	7	4	11	0	6-1/200	27-Jun-06
23	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	34	13	18	31	16	6-0/175	3-Aug-06
24	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	41	27	18	45	42	6-2/180	17-Mar-06
25	Harrison Brunicke	D	Kamloops (WHL)	46	10	11	21	45	6-3/185	8-May-06
26	Andrew Basha	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	47	23	44	67	32	6-0/185	8-Nov-05
27	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	46	8	34	42	46	6-0/185	9-Mar-06
28	Dom Badinka	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	15	2	10	12	39	6-3/185	27-Nov-05
29	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	46	19	26	45	53	6-2/180	28-Jan-06
30	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	18	10	14	24	8	6-2/190	30-Nov-05
31	E.J. Emery	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	0	10	10	51	6-3/185	30-Mar-06
32	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	34	7	23	30	30	6-0/180	10-Apr-06

2024 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 100 – Celebrini sits comfortably on top – Demidov and Parekh among risers in ranking – Strong defense group defines this draft class

Brock Otten — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:58:41 +0000

RK	Name	POS	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	TP	PIM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	25	22	19	41	10	6-0/190	13-Jun-06
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	52	14	39	53	24	6-3/195	7-Jun-06
3	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	23	20	25	45	16	5-11/170	10-Dec-05
4	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	57	3	8	11	8	6-7/210	11-Apr-06
5	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66	6-4/215	3-Feb-06
6	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	49	38	44	82	37	5-11/170	14-Jan-06
7	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	30	8	20	28	40	6-2/200	28-Oct-05
8	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	40	12	19	31	6	5-11/180	11-May-06
9	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	37	38	22	60	28	6-0/195	29-Aug-06
10	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	49	25	49	74	40	6-0/180	15-Feb-06
11	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	48	24	29	53	95	6-3/190	29-Sep-05
12	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	48	35	28	63	25	6-0/185	1-Aug-06
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	46	28	41	69	25	6-2/200	1-Jan-06
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	34	17	31	48	40	6-1/160	28-Feb-06
15	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	26	7	27	34	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
16	Michael Brandsegg Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	32	6	7	13	14	6-1/195	5-Oct-05
17	Adam Jiříček	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2	6-2/175	28-Jun-06
18	Jett Luchanko	C	Guelph (OHL)	50	17	37	54	32	5-11/185	21-Aug-06
19	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	22	0	7	7	26	6-2/170	22-Mar-06
20	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	37	21	23	44	35	6-1/190	14-Apr-06
21	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	33	11	15	26	12	6-1/190	12-Feb-06
22	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	35	7	4	11	0	6-1/200	27-Jun-06
23	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	34	13	18	31	16	6-0/175	3-Aug-06
24	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	41	27	18	45	42	6-2/180	17-Mar-06
25	Harrison Brunicke	D	Kamloops (WHL)	46	10	11	21	45	6-3/185	8-May-06
26	Andrew Basha	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	47	23	44	67	32	6-0/185	8-Nov-05
27	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	46	8	34	42	46	6-0/185	9-Mar-06
28	Dom Badinka	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	15	2	10	12	39	6-3/185	27-Nov-05
29	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	46	19	26	45	53	6-2/180	28-Jan-06
30	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	18	10	14	24	8	6-2/190	30-Nov-05
31	E.J. Emery	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	0	10	10	51	6-3/185	30-Mar-06
32	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	34	7	23	30	30	6-0/180	10-Apr-06
33	Dean Letourneau	C	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	14	14	11	25	6	6-7/210	21-Feb-06
34	Yegor Surin	C	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	37	19	27	46	104	6-1/190	1-Aug-06
35	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	38	15	17	32	18	6-5/200	24-Mar-06
36	Maxim Massé	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	51	26	26	52	16	6-2/190	7-Apr-06
37	Lucas Pettersson	C	MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)	36	20	23	43	38	5-11/170	17-Apr-06
38	Charlie Elick	D	Brandon (WHL)	51	4	19	23	47	6-3/200	17-Jan-06
39	Raoul Boilard	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	21	31	52	32	6-2/190	7-Jan-06
40	Matvei Gridin	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	41	20	30	50	28	6-1/185	1-Mar-06
41	Nikita Artamonov	LW	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	48	7	15	22	12	5-11/185	17-Nov-05
42	Jesse Pulkkinen	D	JYP (Fin-U20)	18	11	17	28	47	6-6/215	27-Dec-04
43	Leon Muggli	D	Zug (Sui-NL)	4	0	2	2	4	6-0/165	9-Jul-06
44	Teddy Stiga	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	24	25	49	26	5-10/155	5-Apr-06
45	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	7	1	1	2	0	5-10/165	25-Jan-06
46	Miguel Marques	RW	Lethbridge (WHL)	50	22	37	59	47	5-11/170	8-Mar-06
47	John Mustard	C	Waterloo (USHL)	39	22	18	40	22	6-0/185	16-Aug-06
48	Lukas Fischer	D	Sarnia (OHL)	52	4	22	26	50	6-4/180	6-Sep-06
49	Simon Zether	C	Rogle (Swe J20)	17	11	16	27	25	6-3/185	18-Oct-05
50	Luke Misa	C	Mississauga (OHL)	51	21	46	67	8	5-10/175	25-Nov-05
51	Sebastian Soini	D	Ilves (Fin-U20)	8	0	0	0	8	6-2/195	10-Jun-06
52	Carson Wetsch	RW	Calgary (WHL)	49	19	20	39	53	6-2/185	4-May-06
53	Terik Parascak	RW	Prince George (WHL)	52	31	42	73	37	5-11/180	28-May-06
54	Christian Humphreys	C	USN U18 (USDP)	35	15	25	40	14	5-11/170	4-Feb-06
55	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	11	26	37	44	5-10/160	28-Jun-06
56	Cole Beaudoin	C	Barrie (OHL)	48	23	25	48	23	6-2/200	24-Apr-06
57	Marek Vanacker	LW	Brantford (OHL)	51	27	34	61	41	6-0/165	12-Apr-06
58	Stian Solberg	D	Vålerenga (Nor)	34	3	9	12	12	6-2/200	29-Dec-06
59	Herman Traff	RW	HV71 (Swe J20)	22	11	7	18	69	6-3/195	31-Dec-05
60	Kamil Bednarik	C	USN U18 (USDP)	41	18	25	43	40	6-0/185	26-May-06
61	Tomáš Galvas	D	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	26	2	4	6	6	5-10/150	11-Feb-06
62	Carter George	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	41	3.09	0.914	-	-	6-0/160	20-May-06
63	Ryerson Leenders	G	Mississauga (OHL)	38	3.19	0.909	-	-	6-1/175	1-Jun-06
64	Tanner Howe	LW	Regina (WHL)	52	24	38	62	48	5-11/180	28-Nov-05
65	Colton Roberts	D	Vancouver (WHL)	50	7	17	24	45	6-4/195	8-Jun-06
66	Ben Danford	D	Oshawa (OHL)	51	1	30	31	21	6-0/175	6-Feb-06
67	Eriks Mateiko	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	40	19	19	38	18	6-4/210	18-Nov-05
68	Daniil Ustinkov	D	ZSC (Sui-NL)	18	0	1	1	0	6-0/200	26-Aug-06
69	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	40	2	7	9	12	6-0/175	15-Feb-06
70	Clarke Caswell	C	Swift Current (WHL)	51	16	37	53	14	5-11/170	2-Feb-06
71	Jakub Fibigr	D	Mississauga (OHL)	44	6	20	26	33	6-0/170	22-Jul-06
72	Ondrej Kos	LW	KOOVEE (Fin-Liiga)	14	3	2	5	8	6-1/150	7-Mar-06
73	Sam O'Reilly	RW	London (OHL)	52	15	30	45	24	6-1/175	30-Mar-06
74	Jack Berglund	C	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	37	14	18	32	18	6-3/210	10-Apr-06
75	Linus Eriksson	C	Djurgardens IF (Swe J20)	24	5	16	21	8	6-0/185	23-Mar-06
76	Tarin Smith	D	Everett (WHL)	54	7	30	37	45	6-1/175	24-Mar-06
77	Nick Kempf	G	USN U18 (USDP)	22	3.02	0.901			6-2/190	1-Mar-06
78	Melvin Fernstrom	RW	Örebro HK (Swe J20)	38	26	28	54	26	6-1/185	28-Feb-06
79	Alexander Zetterberg	C	Örebro HK J20	35	19	27	46	10	5-9/160	27-Apr-06
80	Spencer Gill	D	Rimouski (QMJHL)	50	9	23	32	50	6-3/180	17-Aug-06
81	Kevin He	LW	Niagara (OHL)	51	26	18	44	47	5-11/185	30-Apr-06
82	Aatos Koivu	C	TPS (Fin-U20)	23	15	14	29	28	6-0/165	22-Jun-06
83	Will Skahan	D	USN U18 (USDP)	40	2	7	9	63	6-4/210	14-May-06
84	Justin Poirier	RW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	40	20	60	58	5-8/185	4-Sep-06
85	Maxmilian Curran	C	Tri-City (WHL)	40	5	27	32	25	6-3/190	27-Aug-06
86	Tory Pitner	D	Youngstown (USHL)	33	7	14	21	34	6-1/185	6-Mar-06
87	Lukas Matecha	G	Tri-City (WHL)	29	3.14	0.910			6-3/195	21-Mar-05
88	Brodie Ziemer	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	20	22	42	14	5-10/190	22-Feb-06
89	Niilopekka Muhonen	D	KalPa (Fin U20)	25	4	6	10		6-4/185	28-Feb-06
90	Anthony Romani	D	North Bay (OHL)	51	44	40	84	16	6-0/180	12-Jul-05
91	Julius Miettinen	RW	Everett (WHL)	53	22	24	46	30	6-3/205	20-Jan-06
92	Luca Marrelli	D	Oshawa (OHL)	50	2	38	40	14	6-1/185	4-Oct-05
93	Filip Sitar	C	Malmo (Swe J20)	33	12	31	43	10	5-11/175	29-Jun-05
94	Noel Fransen	D	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	36	17	21	38	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
95	William Zellers	LW	Shattuck St. Marys (USHS-Prep)	43	41	43	84	20	5-10/165	4-Apr-06
96	Gabriel Eliasson	D	HV71 J20	27	0	3	3	81	6-6/205	9-Sep-06
97	Kim Saarinen	G	HPK (Fin-U20)	22	2.34	0.918			6-4/180	22-Jul-06
98	Max Vilen	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	39	1	12	13	8	6-2/200	29-Jun-06
99	Gabriel Frasca	C	Kingston (OHL)	26	9	9	18	10	6-0/170	18-Feb-06
100	Harrison Meneghin	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	41	2.46	0.922			6-3/165	13-Sep-06
HM	Tanner Adams	RW	Providence (NCAA)	27	5	12	17	2	5-11/185	2-Sep
HM	Alexandre Blais	C	Rimouski (QMJHL)	53	18	48	66	30	5-10/155	14-Nov-05
HM	Viggo Gustavsson	D	HV71 (Swe J20)	33	1	10	11	38	6-2/195	11-Sep-06
HM	Andrei Krutov	LW	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	35	15	24	39	10	5-11/175	25-Apr-06
HM	Darels Uljanskis	D	AIK (Swe J20)	35	7	16	23	14	6-1/185	25-Aug-06
HM	Pavel Moysevich	G	SKA St. Petersburg (VHL)	19	2.31	0.927			6-5/175	29-Sep-04
HM	Ondrej Becher	C	Prince George (WHL)	42	19	40	59	32	6-1/175	22-Feb-04
HM	Veit Oswald	RW	EHC Munchen (DEL)	32	8	4	12	0	6-1/165	31-Aug-04
HM	Nathan Villeneuve	C	Sudbury (OHL)	47	18	21	39	52	6-0/185	13-Apr-06
HM	Petr Sikora	C	HC Ocelari Trinec (Cze U20)	27	12	21	33	26	5-11/170	2-Jan-06
HM	Oskar Vuollet	C	Skelleftea AIK (Swe J20)	32	17	24	41	6	5-10/170	3-Dec-05
HM	Kenta Isogai	F	Wenatchee (WHL)	49	25	48	73	22	5-11/155	28-Aug-04
HM	Marcus Kearsey	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	51	5	32	37	14	5-11/170	17-03-06
HM	Nate Misskey	D	Victoria (WHL	40	6	26	32	52	6-3/210	1-Dec-05
HM	Thomas Desruisseaux	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	52	10	34	44	16	5-11/160	10-Mar-06
HM	Jonathan Morello	C	St. Michaels (OJHL)	44	23	27	50	20	6-1/175	31-Jul-06
HM	Kieron Walton	LW	Sudbury (OHL)	47	15	19	34	12	6-5/205	22-Apr-06
HM	Adam Kleber	D	Lincoln (USHL)	33	5	13	18	20	6-5/205	24-Mar-06
HM	Riley Patterson	C	Barrie (OHL)	49	18	27	45	4	6-0/175	22-Mar-06
HM	Eemil Vinni	G	JoKP (Fin-Liiga)	27	2.5	0.9	-	-	6-2/285	18-Dec-06

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2024 NHL DRAFT RANKINGS – December 2023 – Top 32 – Macklin Celebrini leads the pack early by a wide margin

Brock Otten — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:40:04 +0000

NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 1: NCAA men's hockey at Lawler Rink on December 1, 2023 in North Andover, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

It’s time for a ranking update at McKeen’s Hockey as we approach the end of the calendar year. Hopefully you’ve all been following along with our early regional favourites series, where our regional scouts have been providing detailed breakdowns of some of their favourites for the 2024 Draft.

This article shows our top 32 and is available to everyone. For subscribers, we are providing our Top 64 with a few honorable mentions. Then in the new year, we will expand to a Top 100.

The top player on our list is Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini. One of the highest scoring players in the NCAA this year as a freshman, Celebrini has met the ultra-high expectations placed on him heading into the year. He is, in our opinion, a slam dunk to be the first player selected this year. Recently named to the Canadian World Junior camp roster, hopefully Celebrini can earn a roster spot and have a strong performance for Canada as a focal point of the team’s offensive attack.

Sam Dickinson of the London Knights. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

After Celebrini is where things get…murky. We see a group of seven players in competition for that second spot; Sam Dickinson, Cayden Lindstrom, Konsta Helenius, Cole Eiserman, Anton Silayev, Ivan Demidov, and Artyom Levshunov. How those seven players are ranked was heavily debated amongst our scouts. There truly wasn’t much of a consensus among our staff and we know that NHL scouts are having a similar debate at this current time. An argument could be made for any of these seven to be ranked second. Conversely an argument could be made for any of these seven to be ranked eighth. Hopefully a few of these players can truly separate themselves from the pack in the second half. In particular, we’re looking to see if the three defenders, Dickinson, Silayev, and Levshunov, can clean up some of their poor decisions with the puck.

Rounding out the top ten are forwards Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs) and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (Mora). Catton is a dynamic play creator who has a chance to jump into that second tier grouping if he can find a way to become a more consistent off puck player. While Brandsegg-Nygard is a winger who plays a game that should translate easily to the pro level in North America. He competes hard. He skates well. It’s just a matter of whether you feel that he has the offensive upside and skill to be a top six player. At this point, considering our high ranking of him, we do believe he possesses that upside.

Of the remaining 22 players currently in our first round, 11 are defenders. While we aren’t enamored with this draft crop (overall), we do really like the upside of this blueline crop. The question is, can the likes of Adam Jiricek and Aron Kiviharju hang on to a spot in our first round because there is no question that they have underperformed compared to their expectations thus far.

But what about the goalies? This is everyone’s favourite question. At this point, we don’t see any netminders worthy of first round consideration. But we did rank OHL goalies Carter George and Ryerson Leenders at the back of our Top 64. George has been the more consistent performer thanks to his excellent play reading ability and mature approach. This was on display at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky too, when he stole the starter’s job from Gabriel D’Aigle. Meanwhile, Leenders is unquestionably the better athlete and a netminder with a penchant for making the highlight reel save thanks to his quickness. He just doesn’t have as refined of a technical approach.

The List:

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	6-0/190	13-Jun-06	15-10-15-25
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	6-3/205	7-Jun-06	27-6-14-20
3	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-3/210	3-Feb-06	27-22-16-38
4	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/180	11-May-06	26-8-11-19
5	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/195	29-Aug-06	21-25-16-41
6	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	6-7/210	11-Apr-06	38-3-7-10
7	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	5-11/180	10-Dec-05	7-2-5-7
8	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	6-2/205	28-Oct-05	16-4-11-15
9	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/170	14-Jan-06	25-16-20-36
10	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	6-1/195	5-Oct-05	21-2-4-6
11	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-0/175	3-Aug-06	30-12-16-28
12	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-3/190	29-Sep-05	26-12-16-28
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/210	1-Jan-06	23-17-18-35
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	6-1/160	28-Feb-06	20-8-18-26
15	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	6-0/185	1-Aug-06	27-20-11-31
16	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	6-0/185	7-Dec-05	16-5-16-21
17	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	25-10-26-36
18	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	6-3/195	22-Mar-06	8-0-2-2
19	Adam Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	6-2/175	28-Jun-06	19-0-1-1
20	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	5-9/170	25-Jan-06	7-1-1-2
21	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-1/200	27-Jun-06	24-5-2-7
22	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-2/190	30-Nov-05	15-6-6-12
23	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	5-11/175	10-Apr-06	27-5-20-25
24	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-2/180	28-Jan-06	21-7-13-20
25	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/190	14-Apr-06	20-7-13-20
26	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/185	9-Mar-06	22-3-19-22
27	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	28-Jun-06	22-6-15-21
28	Maxim Masse	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-2/190	7-Apr-06	30-13-16-29
29	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	6-5/200	24-Mar-06	19-8-10-18
30	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-2/180	17-Mar-06	22-13-8-21
31	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	23-1-4-5
32	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	6-0/185	12-Feb-06	27-8-12-20